Mike Mulvey reveals Central Coast Mariners' Besart Berisha approach

The A-League's all-time top scorer could have been playing in the Central Coast this season

After scoring the fewest goals of any side last season, Central Coast Mariners were in need of some fire power over the off-season and turned to Besart Berisha as a possible answer.

The A-League's all-time top scorer departed Melbourne Victory to sign for Japanese side Sanfrecce Hiroshima in June, but has struggled to establish himself at a club currently sitting second in the J-League.

With just five substitute appearances to his name, Berisha is yet to score in Japan and will no doubt be desperate to emulate the success he experienced in Australia.

Having played under new Mariners coach Mike Mulvey at Brisbane Roar, Berisha was approached to see whether he'd be interested in an A-League reunion of sorts on the Central Coast.

"Well, we spoke to Berisha's management and he came back and said 'Thank-you very much for the offer, I really would appreciate to come back and play for you at the Mariners, but I've got this deal in Japan and I want to see it through'," Mulvey said on the Coast Football Ramble Podcast .

"That's the kind of man he is - he's on the bench, he's not playing, but he wants to win and he's going to win another championship.

"He was my player in Brisbane and what a fantastic guy. He didn't care if he scored the goals, he wanted to win."

While the Mariners missed out on Berisha, they have ultimately landed Ross McCormack on loan from Aston Villa.

After impressing for Melbourne City last season, the Scottish striker looks to be a very handy pick-up for Mulvey, who admitted he's already looking to bring in another striker for next season with the knowledge McCormack's season-long loan deal could end abruptly.

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"I'm talking to a striker tonight, not one I'm looking to bring in in January but at the beginning of next season and that could potentially be a deal that's put in place soon," he said.

"So we are looking. We've got Ross on loan and who knows how long that loan will last for."

Mulvey began his A-League tenure in charge of the Mariners with a 1-1 draw against Brisbane and is desperate to instill a winning mentality into last season's wooden spooners.

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